Mitigating microphonics in noise isolating sports in-ears?

2018-01-12 22:40:57

It's always been my impression that microphonics (and breathing, swallowing, etc. sounds) and noise isolation level in in-ears are inversely correlated. Is there a way? Currently I'm looking for wireless sports headphones and I'm between the new Sony WI-SP600N and the WI-SP500. Former is noise cancelling and it appears also noise isolating as well, and the latter says it's designed to be open so you can hear outside sounds.

For running at the park I want to hear outside sounds. The SP600N has a cool feature that lets sound in through its microphones and mixes it, called "Ambient Sound". I've tried this feature in the more expensive WI-1000X and it's pretty cool, compared to other headphones' similar feature, which use one microphone, this one actually uses the mics right outside the buds so you actually get a binaural effect and can tell where sounds are coming from so at first blush it appears ideal. However on the 1000X the microphonics are pretty loud as you'd expect so they're unsuitable for me for doing any active stuff (besides other reasons like the design).

So anyone here using noise isolating buds for running? I see many sports BT headphones nowadays seem to be of the in-ear type with the rubber dome which I guess means they're isolating to some extent. Do people not have trouble with microphonics, or they just don't care?

Re: Mitigating microphonics in noise isolating sports in-ears?

Hmm that's interesting. I used to have Westone UM2 and Shure E4c and now I have Shure SE420s and didn't really notice the difference though I never really paid attention to it cause I never used them for exercise. Might be the cabling, which was one of the things I liked about the Westone over the Shure SE420s, but I'm more concerned with internal body sounds. I guess that's not really microphonics. With the IEMs I got including the Sony ones, I can hear low thumps every time I take a step, plus the breathing if I'd be running. Do you not have a problem exercising with them?

Re: Mitigating microphonics in noise isolating sports in-ears?

I think that could be using the rubber plugs rather than the foam ones? The only issue I have exercising is that they're wired For running/bikes etc is fine but as soon as it's weights/core then I take them off as it's too messy moving my phone and them around.